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Making Mountains Out of Molehills

By Jeralyn, Section Elections 2008
Posted on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:31:09 PM EST
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I've been in court all afternoon and just coming in now to all the hysteria. All I'll say is Hillary is being treated unfairly here. The media and blog commenters are engaging in character assassination. She was making a historical statement on why she needn't drop out of the race by early June. Democratic nominations have gone past that before. Her emphasis was on the word "June."

The leap that is required to think that her reference to the RFK assassination was in any way a statement or subliminal wish that it might happen to Obama is mind-boggling.

This will be the final TalkLeft thread on the matter. I'm not going to spend the weekend on this. And I'm going to have a low threshold for accusatory comments. If you want a place to further your attacks on Hillary, go somewhere else.

More...

TalkLeft and I support Hillary Clinton. Big Tent Democrat has his own thoughts, and he is more than welcome to post them. Commenting here is a privilege not a right. If you want to spew garbage at Hillary, find another place to do it.

For our regular readers, both those who support Hillary and the few civil ones who support Obama, when you see a hateful comment or one that violates the site rules, do not respond to it other than by typing "Site Violator" and the name of the commenter in the subject line. I'll take it from there and if I agree, delete the comments when I have time.

I'm not about to wade through 800 comments on BTD's posts. He can clean them when he has time. His threads are closed now to further comments as all have exceeded 200.

Notice to site violators: It's not just your offensive comments that will be deleted, it's all your comments and your account here.

I'm going to have a nice dinner with my son and hope when I return people have regained their senses.

Update: Big Tent Democrat writes in the comments on the open thread:

I think it is clear I overreacted and I think this statement from the persons in the room is definitive: The Argus Leader's Executive Editor Randell Beck issued the following statement today:
"The context of the question and answer with Sen. Clinton was whether her continued candidacy jeopardized party unity this close to the Democratic convention. Her reference to Mr. Kennedy's assassination appeared to focus on the timeline of his primary candidacy and not the assassination itself."
While Keith Olbermann's incredible stupidity makes me ashamed that I was even a part of anything that fed the craziness, I can not undo what I wrote. At the time, it was my honest reaction.

Comments closed

< Pre-Memorial Day Weekend Open Thread | RFK, Jr. On Hillary's Remarks >

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    Making Mountains Out of Molehills | 231 comments (231 topical)
    Thank you Jeralyn (5.00 / 14) (#1)
    by NJDem on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:33:02 PM EST
    This whole thing is ridiculous.

    I said to ignore it two threads ago... (5.00 / 10) (#6)
    by Y Knot on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:44:00 PM EST
    No one thanked me.

    sniff

    [ Parent ]

    Thank you! (5.00 / 4) (#10)
    by MMW on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:46:35 PM EST
    Feel better??

    [ Parent ]
    Much Better! (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by Y Knot on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:47:47 PM EST
    And, you're welcome.

    [ Parent ]
    As long as you feel better. (none / 0) (#32)
    by MMW on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:56:57 PM EST
    Bear Grylls should be on. I think I'll go look for him.

    [ Parent ]
    John Harword pointed out emphasis on 'JUNE' (5.00 / 9) (#57)
    by andrys on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:06:42 PM EST
    and while he was trying to get this across at all, he kept being interrupted by Michele Bernard, who said African Americans would find this irreparably damaging, which I found extremely opportunistic of her.

      At least most networks are showing her statement in its entirety, and people with working minds can see that her emphasis was on earlier primaries being very active in June.

      She even ended that by saying "I don't understand..."
    still focusing on the interviewer's question as to why she has been so pressured to get out before even May.

    [ Parent ]

    She's A Harpie and On Every Damn MSNBC (5.00 / 2) (#146)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:29:49 PM EST
    practically....she shills for obama; that is her job.

    [ Parent ]
    And she's a Republican (5.00 / 2) (#172)
    by ruffian on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:36:16 PM EST
    Who knows what angle she is trying to play?

    [ Parent ]
    I'm Black and I find it meaningless (4.94 / 18) (#94)
    by Xeno on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:17:56 PM EST
    Just another manufactured controversy.

    People like this Bernard person should stop trying to speak for the entire Black community. It is as offensive and presumptuous as any other attempt to categorize groups and their attitudes by race and it needs to stop.

    [ Parent ]

    I'm glad i was working today (4.60 / 5) (#86)
    by boredmpa on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:15:33 PM EST
    I didn't read any of the threads, just read the overview and saw they were over 200 comments.

    It's as silly as calling Bill Clinton's comment on preferring hillary by his side code/racist.

    [ Parent ]

    thank you jeralyn. (5.00 / 10) (#2)
    by proudliberaldem on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:35:10 PM EST


    Merci beaucoup (5.00 / 11) (#3)
    by Radiowalla on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:36:36 PM EST
    What an overblown moment of mass hysteria!  Thank you!

    Welcome back! (5.00 / 6) (#4)
    by Molly Pitcher on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:37:24 PM EST


    My immediate reaction (5.00 / 14) (#5)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:44:00 PM EST
    when people accuse Hillary of saying something "red-flag horrendous" is that it's obvious character assasination.

    After 3 days of hearing nothing but ulterior motives surrounding why she won Kentucky, now her quoting of history is a veiled death wish?

    As I've said in another post, if she were wishing a repeat of 1968, then SHE is Kennedy.  Why would she be out to get HERSELF?

    Sometimes I think she is a masochist to put up with this nonsense.  But for me, of course, it seals my decision about this race.

    I was thinking that very same thing...I have said (5.00 / 8) (#166)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:33:37 PM EST
    before, many Americans don't even deserve her to be in their corners.  She will be president of the entire country, not just the supposed chosen ones.  Even if you are not a supporter of HIllary, you have to admire her tenacity and her fighting spirit.  I don't think this is an underestimation....obama would have broken apart like a house of cards if he was being targeted like Hillary has.

    [ Parent ]
    His legion of Obamatrons (none / 0) (#268)
    by BrandingIron on Fri May 23, 2008 at 10:13:17 PM EST

    won't let him be targeted.  

    [ Parent ]
    Thank you Jeralyn. (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by madamab on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:44:50 PM EST
    Thank goodness I missed the freakout.

    Amazing how we can fly off the handle at the least little thing!

    I was hoping you would be my back-up on the (5.00 / 3) (#169)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:35:37 PM EST
    other threads when I mentioned that this was being perpetrated by trolls and obamaphiles...It actually scared me that this "the sky is falling" rhetoric was soaked up by so many.  Some of us cracked under the pressure; I don't forsee it happening again.

    [ Parent ]
    Awwwww.... (none / 0) (#211)
    by madamab on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:53:03 PM EST
    sorry I wasn't there for ya! :-)

    [ Parent ]
    next time.... (none / 0) (#242)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:04:16 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Well said, Jeralyn (5.00 / 12) (#8)
    by bluejane on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:44:56 PM EST
    "Hysteria" puts it succinctly. Thanks for counseling a moderate tone.

    Hope the two of you (5.00 / 3) (#9)
    by NJDem on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:46:18 PM EST
    have a nice dinner--you both deserve it!

    Well (5.00 / 11) (#12)
    by mm on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:47:59 PM EST
    I understand the Keith Olberman is about to turn this into Mt. Everest.  

    All I'll say is Hillary is being treated unfairly here.

    What else is new?

    since no one will be watching or listening (5.00 / 11) (#19)
    by bjorn on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:50:38 PM EST
    will KO really be talking?

    [ Parent ]
    What is the sound (5.00 / 9) (#22)
    by madamab on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:51:32 PM EST
    of one Keith talking?

    [ Parent ]
    KO is like "a tree falling in the forest, (5.00 / 4) (#120)
    by JavaCityPal on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:23:46 PM EST
    and there's no one there to hear it" Does it make a sound?

    [ Parent ]
    yeah....wah wah wah wah wah wah (none / 0) (#173)
    by PssttCmere08 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:36:42 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    His shorts are in such a bunch (5.00 / 8) (#21)
    by Radiowalla on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:51:07 PM EST
    that he'll likely strangle himself.

    [ Parent ]
    Is that all he said?! (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by themomcat on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:51:50 PM EST
    I no longer watch MSNBC.

    [ Parent ]
    If you're asking (5.00 / 10) (#50)
    by reynwrap582 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:03:59 PM EST
    It was Jeralyn that said "All I'll say is Hillary is being treated unfairly here."

    KO dedicated a special comment to it and probably spent about 3/4 of the show on it.  I didn't watch it, I just had to see if he was really going to do it.  What a nut job.

    The fact that they're trying to claim Hillary mentioned RFK's assassination as a way to reference the potential assassination of Obama as the reason she's staying in the race...well, it's ridiculous.  

    That's not even a reason to stay in the race in the first place, since I'm assuming even if it did happen, the Democratic party isn't going into November with no candidate.

    The only people convinced by these stories are people already squarely in Obama's corner.  I don't think anyone undecided or for Hillary are convinced.

    [ Parent ]

    Good Grief! (5.00 / 6) (#108)
    by themomcat on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:21:11 PM EST
    Is there nothing that Obamabots will twist into something about Obama. The notion of HRC saying anything about Obama being assassinated is just insane. I read the question and answer that she gave in its entirety. This is just incredulous and unspeakable that her words would be so misconstrued. Keith Olberman has no shame.

    [ Parent ]
    KO is insane (5.00 / 10) (#117)
    by Jim J on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:22:27 PM EST
    Tweety is just a dweeb, but KO is the real thing -- an actual nutjob.

    [ Parent ]
    Casting call for Tale of Two Cities (5.00 / 2) (#160)
    by Stellaaa on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:32:10 PM EST
    who will play Madame Defarge

    She is arguably the main villain of the book, and ruthlessly seeks revenge against the Evrèmondes, including Charles Darnay, his wife Lucie Manette and their child for crimes against her family.

    Olberman?  Alexander?  DKOS?  Arianna?  

    [ Parent ]

    KO is no nutjob. (4.00 / 5) (#171)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:36:15 PM EST
    But I will grant you that he's obviously become a legend in his own mind.  I'm actually grateful now that MSNBC's ratings have remained consistently miniscule ever since Phil Donahue got canned, so that whenever Olbermann's trees fall in that network's forest, there's practically no one around to hear them.

    [ Parent ]
    True, according to women who (3.00 / 2) (#257)
    by Cream City on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:14:49 PM EST
    have had to deal with him personally.

    [ Parent ]
    Can I just say, (4.50 / 6) (#85)
    by Iphie on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:15:26 PM EST
    I called this on one of the earlier threads -- granted I was being sarcastic, but man, are these people predictable or what?

    [ Parent ]
    I'm watching it (5.00 / 12) (#44)
    by joanneleon on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:02:00 PM EST
    (I know, why?) For some reason I decided I wanted to see what he'd come up with this time.  I am not upset about this whole thing at all because it's so obviously ridiculous.  This will backfire.

    Anyway, Keith's special comment is really weak and contrived.  It's a complete failure.  A real yawner too.  

    Now he's wrapping it up, all about how "we have forgiven you" for this and "we have forgiven you" for that.  But "we cannot forgive you this" "deepest shame.. political assassination.. Malcolm X.. Kennedy.. steeped in blood.. you must not invoke that imagery.. incomprehension about the America you seek to lead.. this Senator is too much.. she might just be sticking around because the other guy might get shot..."

    It was so ridiculous, I am actually amused.

    [ Parent ]

    Hah (5.00 / 9) (#81)
    by daria g on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:13:43 PM EST
    Don't worry, he will pompously declare that the royal We have forgiven this when the NEXT ginned-up outrage comes along so he can blow his top all over again.

    [ Parent ]
    Of course KO posted a diary (5.00 / 5) (#113)
    by Jim J on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:21:41 PM EST
    promoting his Special Comment over at you-know-where, the place where all the fanboyz go to drool over him.

    [ Parent ]
    Isn't that the weirdest thing (none / 0) (#141)
    by joanneleon on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:28:06 PM EST
    When he started doing that, it struck me as being very strange.    At first, I thought it was all about his vanity and love of fandom.  I also thought he was looking for support via swarms of emails to MSNBC praising him.  But lately, I'm beginning to wonder.  I became really suspicious of his motives awhile ago.  I have a comment downthread where I throw out some ideas of what might be happening, and KO could be part of it.  Okay, taking off tinfoil now.  But hey, we know that the media had pentagon plants, so why not others?  The Wurlitzer lives.

    [ Parent ]
    Edward Murrow (5.00 / 1) (#245)
    by yourkidding on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:04:37 PM EST
    will come back from the dead to defend himself against the lunatic comparisons of KO's hair-on-fire rants to his, E.R. Murrow's commentaries.

    [ Parent ]
    LOL. (4.57 / 7) (#18)
    by madamab on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:50:14 PM EST
    What's new there?

    KO is such a joke these days.

    Hillary should say to him what she said to Tweety, "I really don't understand your obsession with me."

    [ Parent ]

    opps (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by hummingbirdv on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:49:10 PM EST
    Yeah, I'm tired too.  I meant to say, let's move ON.  

    I just spent some time (5.00 / 8) (#15)
    by madamab on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:49:11 PM EST
    with some Obama-supporting - and neutral - political folks.

    Amazingly, this super-important faux scandal never came up.

    Go figure.

    Stay away from mydd today (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by denise on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:50:07 PM EST
    unless you want to get sick.

    and to think (5.00 / 7) (#26)
    by Steve M on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:53:48 PM EST
    that's supposed to be a pro-Clinton site!

    [ Parent ]
    Orchestrated hysterics. (5.00 / 10) (#20)
    by Stellaaa on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:50:38 PM EST


    They will keep on coming to try (5.00 / 3) (#145)
    by JavaCityPal on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:29:44 PM EST
    to get her to drop out of the race.

    Obama may be satisfied to gain the nomination by any means, but if they push her out with these ridiculous concoctions of outrage that will forever be the legacy of this primary.

    The media will blame Obama for decades to come and the further away time takes us, the worse his name will be. Clarence Thomas' legacy isn't just his place on the bench.


    [ Parent ]

    Good lord. (5.00 / 1) (#271)
    by BrandingIron on Fri May 23, 2008 at 11:06:28 PM EST

    Even I remember the pubic hair in the Coke thing.  And I was a kid during his confirmation.

    [ Parent ]
    Another thank you, Jeralyn (5.00 / 9) (#25)
    by MisterPleasant on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:53:14 PM EST
    Glad to have your balanced presence here to put an end to the knee jerk reactions.  As Obama and supporters should know by know, having comments taken out of context can be used to demean the original message.  I refuse to take part in that.  What Hillary said - based on the complete text - was totally appropriate.  Maybe a bit sad for those of us who lived through that decade of political assasinations, but truthful and honest.

    In order to avoid feeding the trolls, I have merely rated the posts of those who came here to incite trouble a lowly "1".  They do not deserve further discourse.

    Thank you Jeralyn I appreciate this (5.00 / 9) (#31)
    by athyrio on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:56:40 PM EST
    site of sanity....You are terrific...

    I've been out and about for most of the (5.00 / 4) (#34)
    by andgarden on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:57:06 PM EST
    day too, so I'm happy to have missed most of this latest outrage.

    I found it uncanny (5.00 / 10) (#40)
    by Stellaaa on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:00:10 PM EST
    It had the same MO with the Bill statement on Jackson.  I really, really think people need to find ways to counter the use of the web and the airwaves in this fashion.  It's absolutely terrifying.  

    [ Parent ]
    Been thinking about that myself (5.00 / 7) (#89)
    by daria g on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:16:55 PM EST
    The web is driven by instant outrage and witch hunts.. Maybe the only thing that'll help is plain outrage fatigue among the general public who are a lot smarter than prominent bloggers give them credit for - they know BS when they see it, and most of it they don't even see.  This stuff is like fantasy football for politics nerds.

    [ Parent ]
    Same MO as appl ied to Hillary's statement about (5.00 / 7) (#222)
    by jawbone on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:57:44 PM EST
    the 1968 civil rights legislation needing both the movement strength of MLK, the political insight of JFK, and the legislative moxie of LBJ. Hillary was excoricated for that, with some saying she was dissing MLK, other that she was dissing JFK. She was making a point about experience and passion leading to change; the Obamans changed it into an attack on MLK, and thus racist.

    This was the beginning of calling her and her campaign racist. It was, apparently, racist to identify the strengths and actions of various individuals.

    Bill Moyers, who had been there, was so upset he opening one of his January programs with a history lesson proving that Hillary's analysis was spot on and correct.

    Same MO: Take a simple, but not most elegantly phrased comment, take it out of context, make a huge fuss about it. Gee, didn't we see this done against John Kerry? Al Gore? And BO's people feed the beast.

    [ Parent ]

    I was reminded of a Goya plate (5.00 / 8) (#35)
    by magisterludi on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:57:19 PM EST
    that has the caption, " The Sleep of Reason Produces Nightmares".

    I think that's pretty apt for these times.

    So glad I missed the first part (5.00 / 8) (#36)
    by eleanora on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:58:39 PM EST
    of this brouhaha. Seriously, the Obama campaign, supporters, and media have a problem with making everything anyone says all. about. him. I thought the Bush remarks were cheesy, but not necessarily about Obama either, just Democrats=appeasers.

    I'm not looking forward to six more months of constant, frothing outrage. What a way to practice "old politics" and make voters tune out.

    Finally - some reality/sanity (5.00 / 9) (#38)
    by Anne on Fri May 23, 2008 at 07:59:36 PM EST
    Which is the reason I read and comment here in the first place.

    I have a low tolerance for people who don't understand that the mind is not meant to be an empty vessel to be filled by someone else's words and ideas, but can be used for independent analysis and thought - producing actual opinions, not echoes.

    People bemoan the inability of younger people to do more than regurgitate the information that gets crammed into their brains by the NCLB folks, but is it any wonder, when many of their parents would rather take Keith Olbermann's or Chris Matthews', or Tim Russert's word for what is going on in the world than take even a moment to see whether they have an opinion of their own?

    [Jesus - next thing you know, I will be yelling at people to get off my lawn...]

    Olbermann in his special comment keeps (5.00 / 6) (#41)
    by inclusiveheart on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:00:49 PM EST
    saying that "we have forgiven you" - I guess refering to himself in the royal "we" - but I've never seen ANY forgiveness towards her come from him. He is lying which would make the high horse he thinks he is on right now considerably lower than he thinks it is.

    I was struck by that, too. (5.00 / 3) (#246)
    by snstara on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:04:54 PM EST
    All his 'we' this and 'we' that.

    All I could think during his carefully choreographed diatribe of fauxtrage was, 'who do you think you are, thinking you speak for every American?!'

    And to think I watched this guy.  

    No more.

    [ Parent ]

    Thank you Jeralyn, I (5.00 / 3) (#42)
    by zfran on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:01:38 PM EST
    always loved ya! I just sent an e-mail on Sen. Clinton's website telling her how many of us are behind her and how I was of what was going on this evening. I asked her to ultimately run as an indepedent candidate..so many would vote for her. They obviously don't care about her, why should she care about them (my opinion). Please go and write to her..

    The sentence should read: (none / 0) (#47)
    by zfran on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:02:53 PM EST
    how many of us are behind her and how I was so sick of what was going on this evening....sorry!

    [ Parent ]
    zfran (none / 0) (#152)
    by tek on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:31:20 PM EST
    I did the same, also made a "sympathy" contribution.

    [ Parent ]
    Thank You Jeralyn! (5.00 / 7) (#46)
    by Richjo on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:02:07 PM EST
    If there is no apology from the Obama camp over this issue I will be following the lead of Samanthasmom and others right onto the sidelines for the November election.

    Why must Obama apologize? (3.33 / 3) (#69)
    by Rashomon66 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:10:08 PM EST
    Why does Obama need to apologize? Do you really need his approval and apology in order for this to become a non-story? I mean if you don't think her words were wrong then why must anyone say anything? Let the crazy blogs and Keith Olbermann play their game. No Hillary supporters listen to them anyway.

    [ Parent ]
    It's (5.00 / 7) (#138)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:27:17 PM EST
    his campaign ginning up fake controversies that's the problem. His campaign needs to clean up their act. How they do that I have no idea but they are driving voters away by the droves.

    [ Parent ]
    But his campaign... (1.00 / 4) (#180)
    by Rashomon66 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:39:21 PM EST
    ...did not 'gin this one up'.
    Hillary said something that was wrongly worded. I know she did not mean it and - yes - the media is blowing it out of proportion. But the Obama campaign didn't make her say it. And his campaign need not apologize for a remark she made. Nor does his campaign control the media.
    Let's move on to real issues. To that I think we can agree.

    [ Parent ]
    His campaign (4.33 / 6) (#221)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:57:27 PM EST
    did gin it up. What she did was reference history. When Obama talks about Lincoln does it mean that he thinks he'll be assisinated?

    The Obama campaign was feeding this crap to the media. Even Obama made a statement about it. If he hadn't made a statement then you would have a point. I'm so done.

    [ Parent ]

    Beautiful Video: RFK's comments on MLK's death (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:04:16 PM EST
    This is an archival video of RFK's remarks immediately following the death of MLK.

    We can learn from this. The way forward is not to raise the spectre of riots and blood shed in the streets of Denver if Obama is not the nominee. If he really wants to honor the memory of RFK (and MLK) Obama and his supporters should call for peace and tranquility and unity in the face of loss.

    That's one of the most beautiful speeches ever (5.00 / 1) (#157)
    by andrys on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:31:32 PM EST
    and done without a teleprompter and incredibly effective, from the heart and mind both.

      I was in London on a rare vacation and looking forward to joining Bobby's campaign when I came back, when I woke up one morning to hear the news on the radio in the hotel.  Very sad.

     

    [ Parent ]

    Everytime I see the real RFK (5.00 / 4) (#204)
    by angie on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:48:31 PM EST
    I'm shocked at how anyone can pretend that Obama has anything in common with him or his family.

    [ Parent ]
    More of the same (5.00 / 2) (#52)
    by Munibond on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:04:33 PM EST
    This is being blown way out of proportion as have other completely rational statements by Clinton and her spouse.  The orchestrated piling on of blogs and media is sickening to me.

    Fortunately (5.00 / 7) (#60)
    by themomcat on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:07:04 PM EST
    I have not had the news on at all today, so I was unaware of the tempest in a tea cup. I read Sen. Clinton's answer to the question. The hyperbolic reaction of the corporate controlled MSM and some of the blogs and the comments, leave me wondering about their mental stability. Her answer was historically accurate, and in context, respectful and not offensive. This hullabaloo just hardens my resolve to support Sen. Clinton and her campaign.

    Thank you so much! (5.00 / 2) (#66)
    by vicsan on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:09:17 PM EST
    My sentiments EXACTLY.

    The Prize winning book (5.00 / 7) (#70)
    by Stellaaa on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:10:09 PM EST
    about this campaign will be how the hysterics and the blogs were used to feed the passive MSM and create the narrative.  And in my opinion, how it was orchestrated by ( fill in the blank, starts with an Axel....)

    What I am doing (5.00 / 12) (#72)
    by ghost2 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:10:28 PM EST
    is recognizing that once again, his supporters (with his approval) and media (I think with his campaign's nudge, wink and nod) are doing character assassination.  

    We have seen too much of this.  It has been the story the whole primary.  I am sick of it.

    There is already a backlash to media being in the tank for BO, a blacklash against the treatment that Hillary has gotten.  I am talking not blogs, but voters.  Read the stories. Women are angy. Her working class (non AA) supporters are as angry as can be.

    This is not organized, and not something she'll do.  This will happen on its own.


    ghost is 100% correct- the Dem leadership (5.00 / 4) (#184)
    by kenosharick on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:40:18 PM EST
    think we will all fall in line like good little sheep in Nov- but they are WRONG!!!!

    [ Parent ]
    How dare you say all working class whites are (5.00 / 3) (#232)
    by prittfumes on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:01:47 PM EST
    non-AA? You didn't say white? No matter, I can assume that's what you meant with no justification whatsoever. Just trying to make a point. But that's how ridiculous it's getting. They can't get Hillary to quit but they keep trying to neutralize her by making her afraid to open her mouth. Now certain well-known bloggers have turned their guns on the superdels. Go ahead guys, keep digging your own grave. Oops, I said "grave"!!! Is that "g" word on the Disallowed List? Excuse me. Go Hillary! All the way to the convention. We've got your back.

    [ Parent ]
    Excuse me, a clearer wording would have been (none / 0) (#254)
    by prittfumes on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:13:03 PM EST
    "How dare you say that all working class are white and non-AA."

    Could it be that this fake firestorm is being generated to cover Obama's floundering on foreign policy?

    [ Parent ]

    I love it (3.00 / 4) (#88)
    by madpie on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:16:31 PM EST
    Somehow neither you nor Jeralyn notes the awkward irony of using the term "character assassination" in this context. Oh well.  

    [ Parent ]
    The difference is (5.00 / 4) (#123)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:24:03 PM EST
    It's okay if you use it AGAINST Hillary Clinton, but if you use it in any other context, it's perceived as a direct affront toward Obama.

    [ Parent ]
    I see we read the same manual ;) (5.00 / 2) (#136)
    by nycstray on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:26:56 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    In fact, I noticed that. (5.00 / 1) (#227)
    by ghost2 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:00:09 PM EST
    But then I thought, screw the PC and the fake outrage machine.  

    Otherwise, I think I would be left with a few pronouns and 'is' in my vacabulary.

    [ Parent ]

    ooh! ooh! (4.72 / 11) (#100)
    by Jim J on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:19:28 PM EST
    Someone said "assassination!" But, but, they can't say that! If the word comes out of your mouth or is typed by your fingers it means you want to kill somebody!

    Outrage, I say!

    I say again: Outrage!

    </whining Obama supporter trying to drum up a controversy on a Memorial Day weekend>

    [ Parent ]

    No, no, NO! (4.66 / 3) (#131)
    by nycstray on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:25:51 PM EST
    It's ok as long as it involves her, not him or what could be perceived as him. And I think we are at the point where she is the only thing that can pass the 'not perceived to be Obama' test.

    [ Parent ]
    Don't say "Memorial" (4.33 / 6) (#110)
    by Shawn on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:21:18 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Don't say "Day", either. (5.00 / 0) (#264)
    by BrandingIron on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:42:40 PM EST

    Some of us Nocturnalists are deeply offended by the heavy bias towards people who live and work during the day.

    </end horrible example of PC crap that infects Obamabots and the likes of similar "progressives" today>

    [ Parent ]

    This is why I love TalkLeft (5.00 / 5) (#78)
    by angie on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:13:00 PM EST
    Jeralyn rocks! I'm making a donation now, and I encourage others to do the same. BTW -- for a good reaction on the faux-outrage, check out riverdaughter's "Where was Ariana in 1968."

    My donation will go to Clinton, although (5.00 / 0) (#87)
    by oculus on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:15:50 PM EST
    Talk Left is indeed a worthy cause.

    [ Parent ]
    I made one to Hillary too (5.00 / 1) (#118)
    by angie on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:22:51 PM EST
    Show her that I'm still standing with her.

    [ Parent ]
    Touching and sad. (none / 0) (#241)
    by nycstray on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:04:11 PM EST
    My Yankees are finally winning and I'm sitting here with tears in my eyes. Thanks for the link, really puts things into perspective.

    I posted RFK Jrs comment over at another forum and the response was . . .

    "I'm certain there will be those who continue to defend her."

    WTF?!

    [ Parent ]

    Oh gees (none / 0) (#253)
    by Valhalla on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:11:40 PM EST
    I started to cry even before I started the video.

    [ Parent ]
    Thank you Jeralyn (5.00 / 5) (#106)
    by Andy08 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:20:41 PM EST
    Your post is along the lines of my comments. I couldn't agree more. The manufactured reaction (including BTD sadly) is absurd.

    But...BIG BUT..BTD corrected his first impression. (none / 0) (#244)
    by jawbone on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:04:37 PM EST
    That's what's missing from the Big Blogger Boyz. And the MCM of course.

    [ Parent ]
    We are through the looking glass (5.00 / 13) (#109)
    by mkevinf on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:21:13 PM EST
    when Hillary Clinton can be reproached for referencing Bobby Kennedy's primary campaign that ended tragically with his assassination.  It was all about a primary going into June.  Pure and simple.
    And now, Rep. Clyburn is stating that "This is beyond the pale(sic-NYTimes)"  
    How dare he!!!!  I have reached the tipping point with the entire Obama campaign, and with the idiocy of the mainstream media.
    I am nearly in tears writing this.  I am a 60 year old white male who has voted Democratic through thick and thin.  I thought I could get behind Obama if Hillary didn't win the nomination.  But with the steady stream of sexist comments by the punditocracy, the questioning of her motivation for staying in a race that we, her supporters, want her to continue to run, the effort to push her out and to accuse Hillary of splitting the party -- and now this absolute idiocy -- I can not do it.  I can not vote for a man who has been embraced by all the misogynistic boys in Democratic leadership and the media.  I can not vote for a man who enjoys the support of a James Clyburn, a man who willfully has taken this comment and other factual comments by Hillary completely out of context.
    Did they think she wanted to wake up some would-be assassin?  What the hell do they really think she meant and why?  If we had real media, the headlights would be turned on Clyburn and not on Hillary.
    This is awful, just awful.
    I can not believe that I will leave the presidential candidate button untouched in November if Obama wins the nomination, but I can not affirm the tone and tactics employed by him, his surrogates and the alien life forms called the mainstream media.

    60 yr (5.00 / 7) (#147)
    by tek on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:29:54 PM EST
    old female here, I cannot believe Obama says that the older generation needs to be "tutored" by the "youth" because we are unenlightened and latent racists.  The white Democratic baby boomers in this country are the people who fought alongside African Americans in the South to make sure they got civil rights.  If it weren't for our generation and the generations before us there would not be civil rights for blacks and Obama could not be running for president.  I think the man is ignorant of American history and is an ingrate.

    I've read several posts today where people said they were going to stay at home or they were going to try to support Obama if Hil isn't the nominee, but after this flap they've decided to vote McCain.

    (Ever get the eerie feeling that this may be what the D. C. Dems want)?  It's all way weird.

    [ Parent ]

    I agree completely with this statement. (none / 0) (#272)
    by BrandingIron on Fri May 23, 2008 at 11:14:26 PM EST

    If I could rate a 10 on it I would.

    [ Parent ]
    These were the same people (5.00 / 6) (#159)
    by angie on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:31:55 PM EST
    who defended KO when he said a SD needed to "take Hillary into a room and only he come out." Yep -- they have absolutely no credibility.

    I guess (5.00 / 5) (#161)
    by Step Beyond on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:32:26 PM EST
    someone shot the unity pony. Poor pony. It never stood a chance.

    Oh yeah, that pony is soooo dead (5.00 / 5) (#179)
    by ruffian on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:38:49 PM EST
    Maybe that was the real point of ginning up this fake outrage.

    [ Parent ]
    Don't cry (5.00 / 3) (#236)
    by befuddled on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:02:44 PM EST
    It was just a hollow plastic pony.

    [ Parent ]
    Hillary's June remark (5.00 / 3) (#162)
    by norris morris on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:32:32 PM EST
    As usual the Obamites have taken Hillary's remark about Robert Kennedy's June campaign as a date reference was turned into an "assassination" attribution by cuckoo Obamatons as Camp Obama still tries very hard to damage HRC in any way possible.

    This is so absurd-anyone (5.00 / 5) (#163)
    by kenosharick on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:32:41 PM EST
    wanna bet how long the MSM hypes the hell out of this nothing story? I say TWO SOLID WEEKS. I think that I am getting to the point now where I will enjoy watching the Obamamaniacs wither under the coming republican assults. And him lose by 100 EVs or more. I guess this makes me a bad person, but I do not care anymore.

    Me neither (5.00 / 1) (#192)
    by ruffian on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:42:57 PM EST
    He can explain that he is not a one man al quaeda sleeper cell from here until the second coming of Jesus or Mohammed, whichever comes first, for all I care.

    As the man said, get the popcorn and enjoy the entertainment.

    [ Parent ]

    I don't (5.00 / 0) (#200)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:47:05 PM EST
    think it will last that long. They'll become bored and talk about something else.

    [ Parent ]
    But no one remembers January of '68 (5.00 / 6) (#164)
    by ruffian on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:32:47 PM EST
    for the love of god.  She was using an example everyone remembers.  Everyone has June of '68 as a touchstone and knows there was a campaign in progress.

    This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard, and in this campaign season, that is saying something.

    I'll add that whenever I think (5.00 / 1) (#207)
    by ruffian on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:50:23 PM EST
    of a Democratic primary in June, RFK's assassination is exactly what I think of.  I'll bet lots of people old enough to remember do the same.   I didn't even remember until Hillary started bringing it up that Bill hadn't clinched it until June.  RFK is what comes to mind.

    [ Parent ]
    I am so angry (5.00 / 9) (#165)
    by dianem on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:33:33 PM EST
    I'm angry at the media for encouraging this. I'm angry at Axelrod for pushing this. And I'm absolutely certain that if he didn't actually dig this issue u and promote it he certainly created the foundation for it to happen. How can anybody be so cynical? Axelrod is just another Rove. I don't want Rove in my party. I was afraid that the Democratic Party would become like the Republican Party in order to defeat them, and I am seeing my fears come true.

    But mostly I am angry at Obama, for pretending that he is above dirty politics and participating in this charade. He is a hypocrite, and I hate hypocrisy. Axelrod has his job - getting Obama elected. Obama is supposed to be a leader, not a Potemkin warrior who is propped up by a party machine that is the most ruthless in modern Democratic history. And people bought it. And the Democratic Party is now divided. He turned triumph into tragedy. How can I forgive him, much less support him as President?

    It (5.00 / 2) (#176)
    by tek on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:37:54 PM EST
    is tempting to wonder if Obama is another Manchurian Candidate.  

    [ Parent ]
    The MCM's thumb on the scale, as Somerby calls (5.00 / 0) (#230)
    by jawbone on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:01:13 PM EST
    it when the press clearly takes a side and misstates a situation to boost their candidate.

    They just love picking our presidents. (Hey, MCMers--take a look at how well your choices work out for us.)

    [ Parent ]

    At this point (5.00 / 1) (#237)
    by Monda on Fri May 23, 2008 at 09:02:49 PM EST
    it is tempting to wonder what will happen to free speech under Obama's presidency?!  

    [ Parent ]
    About those people in Puerto Rico, (5.00 / 2) (#170)
    by Iphie on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:35:55 PM EST
    aren't you even going to wait until a majority of them have voted for Clinton before you dismiss them out of hand? What is it you have against Puerto Ricans?

    What are you talking about? (none / 0) (#217)
    by rebrane on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:55:10 PM EST
    Puerto Rico is not a state.

    [ Parent ]
    Thank you Jeralyn (5.00 / 5) (#178)
    by katiebird on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:38:40 PM EST
    I was afraid to come back but, I'm glad I did.

    Your opinion indeed (5.00 / 6) (#189)
    by MisterPleasant on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:41:45 PM EST
    So discussing historical perspectives from a previous primary are out of bounds?  Frankly I find that as ludicrous as stating that it is playing the race card to mention the racial makeup of the primary votes.

    It is certainly your right to read into Hillary's statement whatever you wish, but every one of us has our own perspective, and will draw our own conclusions.  Indeed it was a sad moment from our past, but I for one find no reason to consider it out of bounds to bring it up.  

    I'm not going to get into the race card stuff (1.00 / 4) (#209)
    by myopinions on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:50:41 PM EST
    Different people will have differing views. If you're looking at Appalachia, then Obama can't get the votes of white people of modest means. If you're looking at Wisconsin and Oregon, you'll reach a different conclusion.

    As far as the RFK comments go, I think they were bizarre, but it doesn't really matter what I think. I mean, I think everything that comes out of Bush's mouth is bizarre and I've thought that from the beginning, but he's president.

    We'll all see how this plays out in the next week, but I think Hillary Clinton just swung strike three within the Democratic Party. I really do. It's sad to see it end this way, but sometimes life isn't very happy.

    [ Parent ]

    Absurd. (5.00 / 3) (#191)
    by Marco21 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:42:53 PM EST
    Of course Keith Olbermann is there for extra hysterics.

    I am sorry, you'd have to be an idiot to think she was talking about Obama being assassinated.

    .
    100% dolt.

    Absolutely (5.00 / 2) (#197)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:45:05 PM EST
    If she were intent on destroying her own campaign, that would be a way to do it.

    [ Parent ]
    Funny how... (5.00 / 3) (#213)
    by Marco21 on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:53:39 PM EST
    the talking head who mentioned having a superdelegate take Hillary into a back room to get slapped around is the voice of "progressive" outrage.

    [ Parent ]
    Olbermann (5.00 / 6) (#210)
    by daria g on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:52:24 PM EST
    Seems to forget that he personally stated that a [male] super-superdelegate should take Hillary into a room and only he comes out?  Implied violence against women is A-OK, twisting Hillary's remark in order to gin up ratings for another Special Comment?  No problem!

    [ Parent ]
    Absurd (5.00 / 2) (#223)
    by Monda on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:58:45 PM EST
    doesn't even describe this.  Olbermann is the same sexist pig who said "don't let her come out of the room" and now he is screaming about this?!  The same idiot who went crazy about the non-existing passport story, blaming the Clintons?  
    I've had it with these people.  I've had it with this election.  I think Hillary really should drop out and go rest until November, her and Bill both.  If she campaigns one day for the DNC and its nominee, she is stronger than any woman, man I know. Or actually maybe not human (as they accuse her not to be.)  Because any human being denigrated to this point left and right would have not resisted so far.  

    [ Parent ]
    This is exactly what occurred to me (5.00 / 7) (#205)
    by suskin on Fri May 23, 2008 at 08:48:57 PM EST
    "Mark my words.  If they do the same with this as they did with LBJ comment, Hillary's supporters who won't [vote] for him will rise to 80%. "

    ..the minute I heard this flap.  I saw the clip with Wolf Blitzer trying to treat HRC's comment like it was actual news and all I could think was - this is going to back fire.  HRC (and women in general) have taken a lot of crap this campaign season, but even so, by nature, women are healers and they may very well have realigned with Obama if he won the nomination.  But there's a line past which we cannot cross without completely sacrificing our honor and self-respect and this may very well be that line.  

    I would think this demonstration of outrage over a comment that was taken out of context and manipulated to have sinister meaning which was never intended should give this country pause.  Are we a nation in which we have to carefully watch every word we utter?  Does it mean that if Obama becomes President, no one can citizen him?  This is very eerie to me, the thought that politicians will be "owned" by Obama because the political climate is so charged that if they don't bow to his wishes their political lives will be over.  

    I think you meant "criticize" (none / 0) (#267)